Remaking higher education for the post?COVID?19 era: Critical reflections on marketization, internationalization and graduate employment

This Special Issue was conceived and developed following a series of international conferences held in Asia, with particular focus on critically reflecting upon higher education development the region from broader social political economy perspectives. Some papers this were selected presentations East Asia Social Policy (EASP) Research Network Conference successfully Taiwan 2018, while others chosen events at Lingnan University Hong Kong presenting critical reviews reflections internationalization, marketization graduate employment Asia. introductory article puts discussions issue context, key issues being examined these papers. The is published when world still confronting unprecedented global health crisis resulted outbreak COVID-19 pandemic. discusses trends through massification, diversification internationalisation processes transforming system examines how are affected by crisis. ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????2018????????????????????EASP????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????COVID-19????????????? came so suddenly that systems across different parts globe unable to make financial, physical or even psychological preparations. emergence online teaching learning has rushed faculty students into adapting virtual patterns. International student mobility been halted major national borders closed. Internationalization seriously adversely universities not only disrupted regard but university West have also significantly drastic drop (Altbach & de Wits, 2020; Mok, Xiong et al., 2020). finances challenged decreasing number students. For those heavily reliant as one funding sources, pandemic undoubtedly both their governance. In response, UK decided continue offering face-to-face classes 2020-21 academic year, enrolment numbers have, indeed, stayed up, least for now … big worry what might happen revenue, bottom line, market-based where institutions survive partly fees. UCL—the country's third-largest research university—gets £300 million, 20.2% its income non-EU (Marginson, 2020, p. 1) It clear sudden pandemic, changing geo-political environment driven rivalry between powers like China United States. influenced mobility, collaboration diplomacy systems. worsening relations Australia, tension States extending trade war technology innovation fights, ideological conflicts shaping 2021). anti-Chinese sentiments anti-China politics already happening before begun interrupt normal extended other liberal economies guarding against rise Science advances (Wong Barnes, Xu Recent (Fry 2020) shows shifted geographic loci coronavirus research, well structure scientific teams, narrowing team membership favouring elite structures. exclusion participation Global South sign accentuation privilege time Changing patterns nature science during (or another crisis) could be an outcome analysis carried out Fry al. (2020) teams became smaller less (in COVID only) result needing act fast able travel (also cost problem). players dominant (China, Kingdom), directions networks changed fewer partners involved. relied existing relationships because it possible build new ones (due limitations immobility). al.'s catastrophic urgent event, such first months accelerate reverse collaboration, especially rapid spread further provoked anxiety Chinese Asian who encountered ‘stigmatization’ ‘discrimination’ diverse perceptions preventive measures taken clearly reflects cultural differences practices non-Asian countries manage public hygiene after (Feng, Qi set unique economic here we reflect marketization, profession presented articles. A few articles review Kingdom ideas neoliberalism. Central neoliberalism introduction market principles education. With declining role state financing education, massive growth non-state sector. adoption use forces develop become trend, more private established cater pressing needs most governments cannot afford primary funder (Maringe Foskett, 2010). Mark Brazzill Japan Kingdom, highlighting two Higher governance reforms policy change Common competition among all driving performance. reductions funding, must search sources sustain future development. Typically, run businesses corporate model adopted efficient effective management (Hartman, 2017). led criticisms academics undermining freedom, commonly heard case studies discourse shape (Graz Hartmann, 2012). Mok transformed last decades country made serious attempts expand allowing actors strategies government increase meet citizens addition, undergone internationalization transnationalization; transformations taking place closely related strong steering. Without fundamentally oriented towards neoliberalism, tactically makes some line drive country. After examining China's form argues emerging should understood free marketplace, counterparts Western societies, never committed philosophy. More specifically, believes involvement (including local overseas players) opportunities interpreted tool. Such carefully employed HE enrolment, diversify experiences rather than representing government's commitment opening sector freely (Jiang 2019). Reviewing massification China, Jiang Ke adopt showing proactively responded challenges resulting urges transform manufactured-oriented production knowledge-based creativity-oriented economies. Realizing disadvantages latecomer expansion reveal adopting decentralization first, then followed concentrating groom them globally competitive responding quest world-class status. Much previous analysed (see, e.g., 2000, 2002; Marginson, 2021); contribution policies since 1998 highlight move mass achieved steer central government. Ke's supports Mok's approach educational formation. Putting perspective, can appreciate exhibits characteristics model, which shaped nation-state pragmatic instrumentalism. Following principle ‘pragmatic instrumentalism’, provide programmes depending funded schools alone will constrain provision capacity diversity (Mok, Chan, Wen, Analysing impact examine performance assessment practices. Based findings surveys regarding Futao Huang offers interesting assessed show under intensified pressures increasingly increasing Through evaluate recent changes professional, highlights faced particularly they tremendous do resources. captures crisis, may anticipate working environments much challenging present shown work forced (Cham, When receiving contradictory comments around learning, difficult imagine generated strike quality teaching, same (Korkmaz Toraman, 2020), called produce publications meeting world-leading standards facilitating perform various leagues (Mok Kang, put together, easily reimagining profession. Before began spreading widely globe, had growing trend Being leading sending regions studying, Pacific attracted exchange forms programmes. Association Southeast Nations (ASEAN) countries, together strengthened links Big Three namely Korea, frequent reported era intra-regional expected Post-COVID-19 Setting context deepening cooperation states, Munusami Hashim analyse ASEM process enriched experience Malaysian experience. Reflecting promoting regional within going traditional study destinations normally based West, offer highly relevant useful insights cooperation, recently signed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) ASEAN Japan, Australia New Zealand. conducted explore whether formation RCEP lead paradigm shift choosing (Yeong, Pan Kong, city-state positions itself city call indicators assessing reconceptualize above arguments us ask head (Xu At published, our problems, closed travels disrupted, using mode learning. Encountering conditions, education? Does matter? Will prefer studying campuses West? How assess stigmatization shocks experienced crisis? significant pandemic? To prepare face environment, many engaged privatization Malaysia outlier remain ‘minority’. Within massified system, Husaina Kenayathulla conducts asking question ‘Are Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) graduates ready future?’ throws light TVET Malaysia, raised discussed internationally massively expanded general degrees offered universities. without careful matching socio-economic labour markets need inevitably skill mismatch, underemployment unemployment Lauder revisited Human Capital Theory beautiful promise investments would enhanced employment, upward advanced career (Lauder 2018). However, broken globalization talented entering ‘wars talents’ positions’ domestic marketplace (Brown High-skilled well-educated facing ‘The Auction’, competitions jobs developments becoming Lauder, 2011). Kuan Peng's college occupational prestige young adults downward failed enough marketplace. Unemployment underemployment, stagnation premium over-supply places comparison high school indeed antagonism adults. unsatisfying youth transition partially contributed Sunflower Movement island (Hou Peng sociological resultant contribute revealing deep-down political-economy intensifying inter-generational housing, security (Green Henseke, 2021; Zhu, Editors thank authors analysing confronted/will experiences. Drawing comparative perspectives, find similar debates jurisdictions globe. revealed vulnerable managing problems. Hence, desperately needed co-developing better nations cultures. We hope officials, leaders stakeholders appropriate productive post-COVID era. Remaking core business experiencing adverse devise supporting enhancing co-production future. No conflict interest declared. Data sharing applicable no datasets study.